Exhibit 99.1
CONSENT OF HOVDE GROUP, LLC
We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter to the Board of Directors of Southwest Banc Shares, Inc. (“Southwest”), as Annex B to the proxy statement/prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement on the Amendment to the Form S-4 filed on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the proposed merger of Southwest with and into The First Bancshares, Inc. and to the references to such opinion and the quotation or summarization of such opinion contained therein.
In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we hereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “experts” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
HOVDE GROUP, LLC
/s/ Hovde Group, LLC
January 9, 2018